01/02/2026
Last year, I had a plan. I was on the path, and in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Three years ago, I would've run to the whiskey bottle. I would've been drinking and stuck in a victim mentality of “why me?”
But a lot has changed. I have changed. I'm not the same person I was back then. The amount of growth I can see in myself in such a short amount of time has been incredible. With my world smoldering around me, I found myself in a place I've never been before. I was having the hard conversations instead of avoiding them. I was setting hard boundaries, knowing those boundaries could ultimately change everything for me.
I can actually say, for the first time, I was proud of the growth I could see in myself. So, I decided to face a fear that was holding me back from something I wanted to do but told myself, “I could never do.” I had one of the best experiences and learned so much, even though I was terrified. I cannot express enough how proud I am of how far I have come in such a short amount of time.
Here's my biggest takeaway:
Don't tap under pressure. Discomfort is only temporary. Knowing that you gave it your everything and didn't give up lasts much longer.
Surround yourself with people who will push you to do better and be better. Those are the people who will be in your corner to lift you up when you want to throw in the towel.
You are the creator of your own story. Your choices and decisions determine the direction you head. You are the hero, but you can also be the villain. It's important that when that voice in your head tells you that “you're not good enough” or “you don't belong,” you don't listen. That voice is only keeping you from becoming who you want to be.
It's not about winning or losing; it's about the lessons learned. How can we do better? Where do we grow from here?
Respect yourself enough to set boundaries and speak up, even if it costs you everything you've been working toward.
When you're exhausted and don't want to keep going, don't stop for anything. Keep going. The hardest part is the start.
You are in the driver's seat of your life—own it!
